Fence-post connection



Dec. 30, 1930. J MAsERANG 1,786,573

FENCE POST CONNECTION Filed March 2,- 1929 Patented Dec. 3%, 1939 STATES JOHN B. MASERANG, OF iBELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS FENCE-POST CONNECTION Application filed March 2, 1929. Serial No. 344,076. v

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fences, and particularly to posts therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a fence post of novel and efiicient construction which is especially adapted for use at the corner of a fence.

Another object is to provide a post so shaped, at its upper end, that a heavy hammer may be used to drive the post into the ground, without injury to the said end of the post.

Another object is to provide a simple and novel means for attaching the fence wires to the posts, such means being easily manipulated whereby to insert or remove the fence wires, and whereby wires of different diameters may be used.

Another object is to provide novel means for bracing the posts at the corner of a fence.

A further object is to so construct the bottom portion of the post that said post will not easily become loosened in the ground.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fence post made in accordance with the present inven- Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the upper end portion of the post.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the post, showing the position of the fence wire and the wedge member.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents the fence post, as a whole, such post being formed with the longitudinally extending ribs 11, forming the inside or back of the post, andthelongitudinal rib 12 arranged on the outer face of the post. The upper end of the post is provided with a fiat face 13 covering the area of the upper ends of the ribs 11 and a portion of the body of the post, while the upper end of the rib 12 is inclined downwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 14. This face 13 is adapted to be struck by a heavy hammer, or like tool, for driving the post into the ground, the inclined face 14 being so arranged that the hammer will not strike the same, thereby effectively preventing mashing outwardly of the upper end of said rib, with the result that the symmetry of the upper end of the post is maintained. At the lower end of the post the ribs 11 and 12 are enlarged, and instead of having the blunt, or rounded outer edge portions as (so in the upper portions thereof, are provided with the sharpened edges 15, which aid in the penetration of the post into the ground. In each of the ribs 11 there are formed the openings 16, which receive the threaded ends 17, of the braces 18. Figure 5 shows a detail of the construction ofan end of one of the said braces. These braces are particularly adapted for the corner of a fence, where the posts are arranged in triangular form, the horizon- I tal braces extending from the corner post to the two adjacent posts, while the inclined braces extend from the upper portions of the corner post to the lower portions of the other posts, as clearly seen in Figure 6, of the drawings. Each of the braces includes a channeled bar 19, having the threaded studs 17 secured thereto, said studs being disposed through the openings 16, and nuts 20 engaged thereon.

Formed transversely in the rib 12 are the Y fence wire receiving notches 21, which open through the outer face of the rib, by means of the slots or throats 22 which are of less width than the notches, whereby to provide bearing faces or shoulders inwardly of said throats, for engagement by the wedge members 23. It will be noted that each notch 21 has upper and lower parallel walls 21, while the inner or rear wall is arcuate, as at 22. The parallel walls 21 serve to effectively prevent ro- 9L tary movement of the wedge member 23, within the notch. Each of the wedge members is longitudinally tapered, and is longitudinally split from the smaller end, inwardly toward the other or larger end thereof. lhe fence wire 24- is passed into the recess or notch 21, by means of the slot 22, and then the wedge member 23 is driven transversely into the recess, outwardly of the wire, so that one face of the wedge member engages the M- wire while the opposite face engages the said bearing surfaces at the opposite sides of the inner end of the slot 22. After the wedge has been properly seated in the notch, the operator spreads the split end of the wedge whereby to effectively prevent the wedge from being disengaged or removed.

It will be understood that wires of different gage may be placed in these notches, the wedge members being adapted to be driven into the notches to greater or lesser degrees, in accordance with the sizes of the wires, whereby to properly hold such wires in place.

What is claimed is:

A fence post having longitudinal ribs one of which is formed with transverse wire receiving notches, each of said notches opening through the outer face of the rib in a narrow throat resulting in shoulders within the notch, said notch having upper and lower parallel walls and an inner arcuate wall, and a longitudinally split wedge member disposed transversely in the notch in engagement with said parallel walls, and bearing against said shoulders and said fence wire, the portions of the split being arranged to be spread, the inner Wall of the notch being arcuate longitudinally of the rib whereby to maintain the Wire against movement upwardly or downwardly from a position centrally behind within said notch.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOHN B. MASERANG. 

